Article by Hiroyuki Ishii
Hello! My name is Hiro and I work for “NIKKO TENKARA,” a tenkara fishing guide business in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. We run our tenkara fishing guide business as NIKKO TENKARA as part of the business of DMC Kinugawa Onsen Co., Ltd., a tourism and urban development company. Our business purpose is not to make money (lol)!
Nikko Tenkara
Tenkara fishing is said to have originated in Nikko, but the number of tenkara anglers in Japan is actually decreasing, so we are working to preserve this tradition for future generations. Furthermore, fishing and other outdoor guides do not have a very high social status in Japan, yet they are the ones on the front lines protecting our rich natural environment and world-class culture. This is why we want to firmly establish the industry as a business and solidify the status of the guiding job.
We intend to use a portion of the profits from the business to preserve the natural environment in which tenkara fishing takes place, with the aim of ensuring that tenkara fishing will survive into the future through a virtuous cycle of conservation and utilization.
Our services cater to tenkara anglers of all levels, from beginners to advanced, and we even offer a course that involves hiking for several hours to the water’s source. For repeat visitors, we offer a “Genryu (headwaters) accommodation course.” This involves fishing upstream along the mountain stream and camping on the riverbank. In the distant past, there were people who would fish in this style and sell the fish they caught wholesale to inns and restaurants at the foot of the river. This course allows you to experience “true tenkara fishing.”
The fish you can catch are iwana (char), yamame (trout), and rainbow trout. There are two types of iwana (char): Yamato iwana and Nikko iwana, which is endemic to the Nikko area.
Itineraries
As for itineraries, many people come on a day trip from Tokyo, but we recommend a course that involves staying several nights, and we can of course arrange accommodations for you.
We particularly recommend a package that involves staying overnight in the mountains at Okukinu Onsen, where you can enjoy both headwater fishing and a secluded resort. We suggest “fishing for two days and resting for one day,” and we a careful to gradually take you deeper into the headwaters while ensuring safety.
For this reason, it would be best to come from Tokyo and stay for 4-5 nights. It takes about 2 hours by express train from Tokyo to Nikko.
Kebari
The overnight course also includes the experience of tying a “sakasa kebari,” a traditional Nikko fly, and the thrill of catching a fish with a fly that you’ve tied yourself is incredible!
Traditional kebari are made from fern cotton “zenmai” and mountain pheasant feathers, both of which are found in the mountains of Nikko, making them a type of fly unique to tenkara fishing that makes use of nature. There is an anecdote that says that in the past, people would pick up fern springs and pheasant feathers in the mountains and tie flies on the way to their fishing location.
Guiding
Regarding guides, for overnight trips, Takashi, who was born and raised locally, will accompany you as a fishing guide, and I will coordinate the entire trip. This means that there will be two guides. This allows us to provide a high level of service and increased safety. For day trips, only one of us will accompany you.
Regulations
If you’re going tenkara fishing in Japan, there are two things to keep in mind. The first is the season. In many places in Japan, mountain stream fishing is only permitted from March to September. Fishing is prohibited outside of these periods. The second is the recreational fishing license.
In Japan, recreational fishing licenses are regulated very precisely by area, and general licenses are not often sold. For this reason, when you arrive at your destination, be sure to check that you have a valid recreational fishing license.
By the way, recreational fishing licenses can be purchased at shops near the fishing location. You should see signs like this:
Equipment & Food
As part of our service, we loan out tenkara rods, tackle, waders, etc., all for free. However, if you’re going to the headwaters, you’ll need wading shoes instead of waders, and to prevent sizing issues, you’ll need to bring your own. If you’d like a traditional Japanese tenkara rod, there are shops in Tokyo that sell them, so we can introduce you to one.
Another thing you may be concerned about is food. With our services, if you choose an overnight course, all meals during the trip are typically included in the tour price. For this reason, if you need special accommodations such as a vegetarian menu, for example, please let us know.
Also, Nikko is famous for soba noodles. They are healthy and highly nutritious, so be sure to try them!
Respect Nature
Finally, the natural environment that we use as our field is not only inhabited by humans, but is also home to a variety of other living creatures. As a result, bears may appear and you may walk through dangerous areas. Please be sure to follow the instructions of your guide. Also, please remember to be respectful of nature.
Now, let’s go tenkara fishing in Nikko!
Go TENKARA with us? 😊
Contact us: info@nikko-tenkara.com or nikkotenkara@gmail.com
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